About Us

Denys Davis:

Denys Davis is an award winning interior designer who began her design career at IKEA, the world’s largest international home furnishings company. She was one of the first Americans hired and helped establish its marketing and design profile. Denys trained in Sweden, Denmark and Norway to learn about IKEA and the Scandinavian lifestyle. She advanced through management to become department head of Visual Display and Communications for the flagship store in Philadelphia. Denys was part of a team of IKEA designers, who planned and established new stores throughout Canada, Europe and the United States. She created the stores first Design Services Department which provided planning and design services to corporate, commercial and residential clients in the United States and abroad.

In 1996 Denys resigned from her position with IKEA to coauthor “The Spirit of African Design.” (Clarkson Potter/Publishers). She began lecturing and writing about design in 1998. She traveled throughout the United States speaking about interior design and African art and style. Her articles on design have appeared in many national publications including Redbook, BET Weekend, Heart and Soul, Sister 2 Sister and Today’s Black Woman. She has also worked as a magazine stylist and home stager. She was the recipient of the “Pinnacle Award” for best show house design given by the Montgomery County PA Builders Association.

Denys received a B.A. from Hampton Institute, now Hampton University. She has lectured at the Hampton University Museum; the oldest African American museum in the country.  She lives in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.

Monna Morton:  

Monna Morton is an award winning graphic designer and artist who has won and been recognized for more than 50 design and communication awards.   She has designed graphics and advertising for major transit agencies, airports and airlines, retail outlets, hospitals and public and private agencies.  Her work has met successful outcomes measured by surveys, both digital and intercept.  Monna has designed publications that range from small brochures to multi-page publications and annual reports.

She has exhibited her art in various coffee houses, restaurants and small galleries in the Philadelphia area.  Monna has studied ceramic tile design and developed designs for textiles, and other home fashions. She has collaborated on articles for local publications on craft and applied design for the home.

Monna is a sought after mentor and guide for young design students who are seeking careers in various design disciplines.  She has been a guest design instructor and lecturer at the University of the Arts for wearable art, and design as a career.  She is particularly passionate about African design and how the patterns, motifs and shapes connect to form cultural iconography. She is an Adjunct Instructor at Moore College of Art.

Monna has a BFA with a concentration on communications design, art direction and advertising, from the prestigious Pratt Institute in Brooklyn NY and lives in Philadelphia, PA.